Oxford man charged in threat against college

EAST BROOKFIELD 
An 18-year-old Oxford man who allegedly threatened to shoot up Anna Maria College in Paxton was released on $50,000 bail after his arraignment today in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield.

Thomas Frongillo of 44 Ennis Road, North Oxford, is studying criminal justice at Anna Maria and is currently in the police academy. He had been promised a job as a part-time officer with the Oakham Police Department, which was sponsoring him in the academy, his lawyer said.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Luzzo said Mr. Frongillo was playing an online game through Jagex Ltd. in England today when he allegedly typed, “I'm shooting up my school tomorrow” and indicated he knew how to use guns.

Officials from the gaming company alerted Oxford police early Thursday morning. They in turn alerted Paxton police, who patrol the college campus. Paxton police called Mr. Frongillo early Thursday morning and told him he would not be allowed on campus.

About 8:30 a.m., Mr. Frongillo went to the Paxton Police Department with his mother. He was arrested and charged with threatening to commit a crime and threatening a bombing or hijacking.

A transcript of the online-game conversation that Jagex provided police indicates Mr. Frongillo also made anti-Semitic comments after he drew a “Nazi symbol” in the game. One of the other players referred to him as “Jew killer” and he allegedly responded, “If only.”

One player told another to report him, though it is unclear whether anyone did. The gaming company, after seeing the comments about a school shooting, pulled up a previous game session from Wednesday in which Mr. Frongillo allegedly wrote that he had shot at a squirrel using buckshot in his .12 gauge but missed.

At his arraignment, lawyer Michael J. Reno said Mr. Frongillo, a graduate of St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, planned to be a police officer. His words, Mr. Reno said, were “a harmless jest” and he never intended to carry out an attack at the school, where he has a 3.25 grade point average.

Oxford police searched the home where Mr. Frongillo lives with his parents and removed several legally owned guns that belong to his father, Mr. Luzzo said. Mr. Reno said Mr. Frongillo would be able to stay at home while out on bail.

Judge David Locke ordered Mr. Frongillo to stay away from the college campus. Mr. Frongillo also had to surrender his Firearms Identification Card and any other guns he might have. He is due back in court April 19.